War on crime boss

MORE than 30 police officers took to the streets of east Manchester to send a warning to a man they believe is a crime boss. Officers believe the suspect is the head of an armed drugs and protection racket gang thought to be involved in the shooting of four people.

MORE than 30 police officers took to the streets of east Manchester to send a warning to a man they believe is a crime boss.

Officers believe the suspect is the head of an armed drugs and protection racket gang thought to be involved in the shooting of four people.

The patrols, mounted in Beswick to search a number of properties thought to be used by the drugs don and his cronies, are are part of Operation X-calibre, a new drive to combat gun crime in Greater Manchester.

Supt Andy Lang said: "This particular individual is believed to be involved in a number of serious firearms incidents, including the shootings of at least four people and other drive-by type shootings.

"He has been involved with bouts of sustained and extreme violence and intimidation and has previous convictions for serious assaults, witness intimidation, violent disorder and firearms offences.

Injuries

"Current intelligence also indicates that he and his associates have easy access to firearms and are more than willing to use them. At least one innocent bystander has already been seriously injured in a shooting incident, which we believe, is part of a feud between rival gangs.

"Officers will be patrolling three streets in the area and making searches on a number of empty properties that are believed to be used to stash guns and drugs. We will continue to be a thorn in his side, keeping a close eye on him and interfere with his criminal activities."

None of the four people shot in Manchester earlier this month were killed, but all suffered serious injuries.

Police operate according to very strict rules. If they do not have the power to charge someone with an offence, but have information to suggest they have been up to no good, they can target them by "disrupting" their criminal behaviour in this way.

A similar type of technique has previously been used against gun-toting gang members in south Manchester, with police and the city council working together to apply for anti-social behaviour orders against them.